Christmas shopping guide - 10 Beautiful Dress Watches of 2016 - Monochrome Watches
After going through some of 2016’s best sport watches, it is time for our Christmas shopping guide to make dressing up easier. You might have noticed that we have a weak spot for nice and stylish dress watches, and we’re pleased that so many new dress watches saw the light of day in 2016. We sat down with the team and selected ten of the best dress watches of 2016, models focusing on essentials and ranging from high-end to accessible – because elegant doesn't necessarily mean expensive.?Gronefeld 1941 RemontoireIt should come as no surprise to see the Gronefeld 1941 Remontoire in our list of the dress watches for 2016 as it is a Monochrome team's favorite and has received several industry accolades. Last month?it won the prize for best men's watch, and?the special jury Grand Prix award at the?Watch of the Year election organised by our friends of Chronos24 in Poland. A few weeks later after winning these two awards, it was also awarded with the Best Men’s Watch

Dietrich TC-Pure Limited Edition Sterile Dials (Specs & Price)
We've covered several Dietrich watches in the past, which showcase edgy, avant-garde designs like the DD-1 and 1969. Founded in 2010 by Emmanuel Dietrich, the brand focused on affordable eccentricity, but also flexed some horological muscle with the Perception in 2017, a complicated and sophisticated Swiss made piece with a high price to match. Dietrich also launched the Time Companion collection that year, a surprisingly conventional and well-priced steel sports watch. A recent collaboration with Toronto based designer Matt Smith-Johnson has resulted in the new TC-Pure Limited Edition, a stripped down and modern interpretation of the original Time Companion (TC-1).The stainless steel case and integrated bracelet remain unchanged from the TC-1 with their Audemars Piguet Royal Oak vibe, but the new dials really change the aesthetic. MONOCHROME's Founder and Managing Director Frank Geelen recently explained how personal a dial can be with his own vintage Royal Oak Jumbo' 5402ST. Matt Smi

Interview: In Conversation with Benoit de Clerck, The New CEO of Zenith
Earlier this month, LVMH, the French luxury powerhouse, reorganized the management of its watch division. Frederic Arnault was named CEO of LVMH Watches – overseeing TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith – Julien Tornare subsequently took over as CEO of TAG Heuer while a former Richemont executive, Benoit de Clerck, was recruited to run Zenith. Just ahead of the LVMH Watch Week, we had the opportunity to sit down with the new CEO of Zenith in Geneva.Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME – Benoit, thanks for having us. What is your background, and what brought you to the head of Zenith? Ad - Scroll to continue with article Benoit de Clerck, CEO of Zenith – I have been versed in the watch industry for the past 25 years. My journey began with TAG Heuer when I opened their office in the Middle East before its acquisition by LVMH. Subsequently, I joined Richemont w

Your Guide to the "Dirty Dozen" - Including the Only British Member, VERTEX - Monochrome Watches
In our modern age of smartphones and wearable tech, it's easy to forget just how indispensable the humble mechanical wristwatch once was. Yet even a brief foray into the world of military watches is enough to provide a vivid reminder. Rugged, reliable and entirely fit-for-purpose, these simple timekeepers have played a critical role in the successful execution of military operations that dramatically shaped the course of modern history. Particularly during World War II, the period which we will be focusing on for the purpose of this article. Arguably the best-known such watches from this era are those of the British Military. More specifically, the Dirty Dozen.The 12 watches that compose the so-called “Dirty Dozen” – Photo by A Collected ManBackgroundChances are you're already familiar with the Dirty Dozen, or have at least heard the name. That's probably because the Dozen is amongst the most sought-after series by military watch collectors. If you're not familiar wit

Graham Chronofighter 1695 - Monochrome Watches
Distinctive… that word is very applicable for the Graham Chronofighter. Together with the Panerai Luminor Marina – with its recognizable crown guard – it is perhaps one of the most recognizable watches of the last decennia. Graham just released a new, more discrete, version of the bold Chronofighter.?It’s mainly because of the prominent chronograph pusher, that it stands so much apart from other watches. The first time I saw one ‘in the metal’ I just had to try it (check my old wrist shot here)?and I was positively surprised by it’s looks and even discretion. At least, as long as the chronograph pusher is hidden under your sleeve. Here’s the new Graham Chronofighter 1695. Ad - Scroll to continue with article The dial shows 12 numerals, a date aperture at the 3 o’clock position and a 30-minute chronograph coun